Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Could Headley be a Brosius?

Scott Brosius came to NYC at age 31, following a nightmare year in Oakland when he hit .203 and earned the nickname "Atrocious." To get him, we gave up Kenny Rogers, our own pre-Carl Pavano-esque disappointment, who would eventually enact revenge - but that's another tale from the crypt. 

Brosius embodied an increasingly rare soul: the discarded journeyman who thrived in Gotham. In 1998, his first Yankee season, he hit .300 - a rise of 97 points. Generally, he batted eighth, ahead of slappy Joe Girardi. Over the next few years, his numbers fell: in 2000, Brosius hit .230. But in October 2001, he wrote his name into our sidewalk, homering with two outs in the ninth to beat Arizona, in the most heart-breaking World Series ever, ending the last great Yankee dynasty of our lifetimes... until, gulp, dare I say it?... maybe now.

Four years ago, at age 30, Chase Headley came to this now Mets-dominated city, after the abominable Padres punted. He was hitting .229 in San Diego, unprotected and unhappy, and jumped to .262 over the second half of the season. (By the way, that's the highest he has ever hit for us.) He embraced NYC and signed with us through 2018, at $13 million per season. It's been downhill ever since.

But today, I cometh here to speaketh blaspheme. I sayeth that the difference between the two is that Brosius played on great meaty Alpo teams, while Headley has been surrounded by ACME kibble. On occasion, Brosius batted ninth; on occasion, Headley has hit second. And these days, Headley has become the starter Yankee fans most want to vanish. (I'm excluding Chris Carter, who no longer starts, and Jacoby Ellsbury, who has recurring headaches, which are no laughing matter.)  

Yesterday, on the great River Ave website, Mike Axisa sifted through potential trades the Yankees can make at 3B. He studied Todd Frazier, Martin Prado, Judd Lowrie, et al, with varying degrees of pain and commitment. It's worth reading, but for one elemental caveat: Nobody ever projects Brian Cashman's trades. For better or worse, whatever Cashman does, it's never what bloggers expect. Generally, I say, why bother?

Besides, as simplistic, fairy tale-minded Yank fans, we all want Glyber Torres, age 20, to vault fully grown from the skull of Scranton and lead the 2017 team to the World Series. (By the way, Glyber homered last night, his first at Triple A... but he was playing SS. What the, like, fuck?) To paraphrase the NY Lottery: All you need is a prospect and a dream. But here's another thought.

Let's start viewing Headley as a mutant Brosius, who hits .228 (his current stat) but bats ninth. If Greg Bird ever returns at 1B, we can afford a .228 nothing-burger at 3B. I say this recognizing that, for most IIHIIFIIc readers, Head Chese Headley has lingered well past his sell-by date and is stinking up the deli counter.  

Nevertheless... I say the Evils should do nothing at third, (unless Glyber goes on a ridiculous tear and forces the issue.) Houston is baseball's best team, and we sit right where they were two seasons ago. At some point over the next 12 months, we will surely trade a bunch of prospects, but if so, let's do it for somebody in or entering his prime - not a three-month rental or a hanger-on. At Trenton, a 22-year-old 3B named Miguel Andujar is now hitting .302 after a dreary start. Between him and/or Glyber, we have the long-range answer at 3B right in front of us. The last thing we need is yet another aging veteran. (Though a Josh Donaldson... hmmm... that would be interesting, no?) 

It hurts to type this, but I say we must ride with Headley unless one of the kids absolutely kicks in the door. No matter how badly we want it, Glyber might not be ready in 2017. Let Headley bat ninth (except for when Austin Romine is catching), and let's live with .228 and 12-15 home runs. If Bird doesn't hit, well, that's the crisis. We can afford a Brosius, as long as we have a Tino at first - and right now, we got nuthin.

We remember Scott Brosius fondly, because he was part of a great team. That's our best hope for Headley. And - gulp, dare I say it? - it could happen.

13 comments:

JM said...

Could Headley be a Brosius?
Could winter turn to Spring?
Could daffodils be binders?
And earn us all a ring?

Could Refsyder be Sojo?
Is Judge another Mick?
Is Aaron just a hiccup?
And Tanaka really sick?

Does Cashman like his Lasik?
Does Hal own kinky boots?
As long as we're in first place
Are all our questions moot?

el duque said...

This belongs on Bardball.

Alibi Ike said...

Yea, John, Can we put it up on Bardball? Just tell me what your byline should be, real or anonymously fake.

Anonymous said...

NO, SORRY TO SAY HEADLEY IS NO BROSIUS.... THE REAL DIFFERENCES?
HEADLEY REALLY DOESN'T HAVE A CLUTCH BONE IN HIS BODY, AND LEAVES GUYS ON BASE BY THE BOATLOAD......AND I CAN'T REMEMBER ONE TIME BROSIUS "AIR MAILED" ONE OF THOSE FAMOUS HEADLEY YIP THROWS.

GLEYBER SHOULD BE THE ANSWER....BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF HEADLEY MOVES INTO STEPHEN DREW TERRITORY, AND GLEYBER STARTS RIPPING IN SCRANTON?

WE WOULD BE FOOLISH NOT TO REPLACE HEADLEY WITH GLEYBER.

I THINK THIS IS DESTINED TO HAPPEN THIS SEASON. HEADLEY WILL GET WEAKER, (GEEZ, THE SEASON JUST STARTED AND HE IS ALREADY WEAKENING, AND GLEYBER WILL GET STRONGER).

REMEMBER, IT'S EITHER GLEYBER NOW AT LEAGUE MINIMUM, OR MANNY MACHADO, OR TOOD FRAZIER, FOR MULTI-MILLIONS DOWN THE ROAD.

SORRY EL DUQUE, BUT HEADLEY MUST GO.

Alphonso said...

Duque; you do wonders with analogies and dreams.

Your essay reminded me of the Everly Brothers....Dream, dream, dream...

I earnestly hope you are right.

Joe Formerlyof Brooklyn said...


My memory deteriorates, as I have crossed the line into the years of senescence.

My "feeling" was the Scotty was a better fielder than Head Chasely is right now.

So I went and looked it up:

BROSIUS errors -- 22 in 98, 13 in 99, 11 in 2000

HEADLEY errors -- 23 in '15, 10 in '16, 9 (so far) this season.

My feeling, then, might well have been TOTAL BS . . . this doesn't change my hope, that if the guy is gonna stay there, he make ZERO errors the rest of the way.

. . . it's hard to believe Gleyber would make more than 4-5 errors a month . . . and he might hit .247 or something.......

joe de pastry said...

Totally agree.
If Gleyber tears up AAA, bring him up in August.
But for now, stick with Chase.

Anonymous said...

WELL, IT'S MID GAME AGAINST BOSTON, WE'RE LOSING 5-2, AND GUESS WHO THE GOAT IS THIS GAME? (WHO'S NAME IS NOT TANAKA)?....
IT'S CHASE HEADLEY !

HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO KILL US, LIKE HE HAS TONIGHT, LEAVING RUNNERS ALL OVER THE BASES AT THE MOST CRUCIAL TIMES.

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE HIM PLAY MUCH LONGER, MUCH LESS AGAINST LEFTIES.... HE IS BATTING .157 FROM THE RIGHT SIDE!.... WAKE UP GIRARDI AND CASHMAN! WE ARE IN STEPHEN DREW TERRITORY AGAIN!!!

WHEN WILL THEY LEARN, IN THIS LEAGUE, AND IN OUR DIVISION, WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE AN EVERYDAY PLAYER IN OUR LINEUP THAT BASICALLY ADDS UP TO A PITCHER BATTING.

Anonymous said...

Wasn't only Headcase Chase - - I have never seen so many Yankee hitters chasing those high fast-balls above the strike-zone in one game! Pathetic. Someone needs to talk to them (ain't gonna' be Joey Blue-Binders, uh-uh...) We had about a zillion chances to win that game - - no thanks to Tanaka-San, who reeked tonight. We lost to a pitcher who can't make it past the fifth inning, FGS!! Pardon me, while I retch... LB (No J)

Anonymous said...

TRUE anonymous....... THE HIGH, OUT OF THE STRIKE ZONE SWINGING WAS ATROCIOUS.
PLAYER AFTER PLAYER WAS SWINGING WITH 2 - 0 WHICH HELPS THE PITCHER OUT IN THE LONG RUN, AS WELL....... WILL GIRARDI STEP IN? ....NOPE..... HE ALWAYS SAYS HE "LIKES WHEN THEY'RE AGGRESSIVE."

JM said...

Late getting to the intertubes today....

Ike, Duque...sure, put it up wherever you want if you like it. "John M" is a fine byline, imo. And thanks!

Anonymous said...

A fine by-line befitting a fine piece of work, John. Kudos! LB (No J)

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